Samsung Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro
Samsung largely stored the identical design as the unique 2019 Active Pro, however boosted it with higher efficiency and help for the most recent multitasking software program. This rugged pill is marketed in the direction of cellular area employees or outdoorsy sorts who want safety greater than cutting-edge specs.
ForIP68 and MIL-STD-810H protectionShips with case and S PenDetachable battery & battery-free modePerformance increase over authentic ProAssist for 5G, Enterprise optionsProgrammable aspect keyAgainstSpecs downgraded in comparison with Tab S8Heavier, thicker than Tab S8
Whether you purchase the smallest Galaxy Tab S8 or improve to the Plus or Ultra, you are getting the very best Android pill expertise available on the market right now. It offers you a step up on the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro in velocity, visuals, cameras, audio, and different areas. But it isn’t essentially a pill outfitted to deal with the nice outdoor, and a rugged case will solely take you up to now.
ForFaster performanceQuad Dolby Atmos speakersSpeedier chargingHigher decision show w/ 120Hz refresh rateHigher-resolution camerasLighter, obtainable in bigger sizesAgainstNo water resistance or fall protectionDoesn’t ship with caseNo 5G help
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro went underneath the radar when it launched in 2022, particularly in comparison with the high-profile Galaxy Tab S8 launch. But for anybody out there for a rugged pill, the latest Active mannequin checks a ton of packing containers and is much less of a downgrade than Samsung’s earlier choices. Considering the 2 tablets have very related worth factors, the query must be requested: do you have to purchase the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro, or simply slap a case and display screen protector on the Galaxy Tab S8 so you do not have to just accept any trade-offs? In this Samsung Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro vs. Tab S8 information, we’ll attempt to reply that query.Samsung Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro vs. Tab S8: Design and displayWhy you possibly can belief Android Central
Our professional reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services and products so you possibly can select the very best for you. Find out extra about how we take a look at.(Image credit score: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)We’ll speak about ruggedness (or lack thereof) in a later part; let’s begin by speaking about the way it feels to carry these two units. The Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro measures about 0.4 inches or 10mm thick, considerably beefier than most tablets — not to mention the 0.25-inch Galaxy Tab S8. As we mentioned in our Galaxy Tab S8 hands-on, the pill is “reasonably comfortable to hold for a good bit of time,” with easily chamfered corners and bezels simply broad sufficient to depart room in your fingers. Its skinny, aluminum design really works towards it a bit, in comparison with thicker and extra rounded tablets just like the Pixel Tablet; its thinness means you are going to have extra of a claw grip, with stress in your fingertips. But in comparison with the bigger Tab S8+ and Tab S8 Ultra, it is definitely the one mannequin that we would think about “portable.”Compared to that, the ultra-thick Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro weighs far more and is healthier suited to sitting docked someplace. But it does, a minimum of, provide you with loads of room to grip, particularly if you connect the case. The precise show bezels aren’t that completely different from the Tab S8 bezels, however the case offers your palms extra room to comfortably curl and a ridged again to relaxation your fingers towards. Though, in fact, you should buy a rugged case for the Tab S8 and get the identical impact.One distinctive characteristic on the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro is a programmable aspect key that you could press or maintain to set off two separate shortcuts, except for no matter shortcuts you add to the facility button.(Image credit score: Samsung)As for the show, the Galaxy Tab S8 has the plain edge right here. Both have normal LCDs — a step down from the rich-color AMOLED shows of the Tab S8+ and Ultra — however the Tab S8 has a stable 50 pixels per inch greater than the Active4 Pro, in addition to an ultra-smooth 120Hz refresh fee. In protection of the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro, 1920 x 1200 is a wonderfully respectable decision for a 10-inch pill, and beats most of the greatest low-cost Android tablets on this class. It additionally hits 550 nits to make it higher suited to outside use; Samsung did not specify a brightness rating for the Tab S8, however our mum or dad firm’s Future Labs testing revealed a median of 463. Still, the Galaxy Tab S8 is the clear winner for each informal streaming and on a regular basis productiveness, since 120Hz scrolling (and the sooner processor) makes a significant distinction in avoiding a stuttery expertise.Both of those Galaxy tablets shows help the S Pen and include the stylus out of the field. We know that the Galaxy Tab S8 has an impressively low 6.2ms latency between contact and response; Samsung did not specify the latency for the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro, however its advertising and marketing supplies say “near-zero latency” and that it decreased the latency in comparison with the unique Active Pro, so there most likely is not a noticeable distinction.Lastly, solely the Galaxy Tab S8 has coloration choices moreover black. Though to be honest, its silver and pink gold finishes aren’t the flashiest choices on the market. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro vs. Tab S8: HardwareSwipe to scroll horizontallyCategorySamsung Galaxy Tab Active4 ProSamsung Galaxy Tab S8ChipsetSnapdragon 778GSnapdragon 8 Gen 1Display10.1-inch TFT LCD (60Hz), 1920 x 120011-inch TFT LCD (120Hz), 2560 x 1600Memory4GB or 6GB8GBStorage64GB or 128GB128GB or 256GBExpandable storageShared microSD slot (as much as 1TB)Dedicated microSD slot (as much as 1TB)Rear Digicam13MP AF13MP AF + 6MP UWFront Camera8MP12MP UWBattery7,600mAh (detachable)8,000mAh (fastened)Charging15W USB-C45W Fast Charging (USB-C)AudioStereo audio system, 3.5mm portQuad Speakers + Dolby AtmosAuthenticationIn-display fingerprint sensorFingerprint on energy buttonConnectivityWiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2WiFi 6E (6GHz), Bluetooth 5.2ProtectionGorilla Glass 5Gorilla Glass 5, IP68, MIL-STD-810H compliantStylusS Pen includedS Pen included w/ 6.2ms latencyDimensions242.9 x 170.2 x 10.2mm253.8 x 165.3 x 6.3mmWeight674g; 824g with case503gColorsBlackGraphite, Silver, Pink GoldPrice$760-$820$700-$780The key improve between the unique Galaxy Tab Active Pro and Active4 Pro is the swap from the Snapdragon 670 to 778G. For context, probably the most well-known Snapdragon 670 telephone was the Pixel 3a, which Google optimized with its AI methods in 2019 however light in efficiency pretty shortly.The Snapdragon 778G might be discovered within the Nothing Phone (1), Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G, Poco X5 Pro, all comparatively current telephones we gave fairly constructive critiques. As our editor Harish Jonnalagadda put it, the 778G is a “stalwart” chip for the mid-range class that “delivers good performance for daily use and occasional gaming.”To be clear, although, that primarily applies to telephones with 6–8GB of RAM. The 4GB/64GB base mannequin of the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro might be going to underperform in comparison with what you’d need in a contemporary pill; we suggest shelling out the additional $60 for the 6GB/128GB variant. If you intend to make use of the Active4 Pro’s 5G capabilities, that is one more reason to improve. It has a single slot that you need to use for a 5G chip or a microSD card, not each; and 64GB simply is not sufficient storage as of late, until you actually do not plan to obtain that many apps. 128GB is far more manageable. (Image credit score: Android Central)By distinction, the Galaxy Tab S8 has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, a flagship chip that runs laps across the Snapdragon 778G in benchmarks, and 8GB of RAM by default. Despite the truth that the 8 Gen 1 ended up attracting controversy for its tendency to run sizzling, it is nonetheless a flagship chip going through off towards a mid-range chip. If you wish to use your pill for taking part in the very best premium Android video games that demand excessive GPU efficiency, you may need the Galaxy Tab S8 — each for sooner speeds and smoother refresh charges. The Galaxy Tab S8 additionally wins for audio efficiency. In our Tab S8+ evaluate, we discovered that the “sound quality stays rich and clear no matter how you orient it or how high you pump the volume,” and the Plus has the identical Dolby Atmos-tuned audio system because the smaller mannequin. For comparability, the Active4 Pro stereo audio system aren’t going to have the identical richness or bass energy; however you do a minimum of have a 3.5mm headphone jack, one thing the Galaxy Tab S8 lacks.For battery longevity, the Galaxy Tab S8 collection lasted a couple of dozen hours of energetic use in our checks, making it the most effective in that class. The Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro battery is barely barely smaller, and the smaller 60Hz show and fairly environment friendly 778G chip ought to assist the rugged pill final simply as lengthy. The draw back of the Active4 Pro is its 15W charging velocity. Refilling a 7,600mAh battery with a 15W max will most likely take about 3 hours. But in contrast to most tablets, you possibly can really take off the again panel and take away the battery totally; so if crucial, you possibly can purchase a substitute battery and swap it in totally charged, providing you with time to recharge the unique battery.Samsung Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro vs. Tab S8: Ruggedness and software program(Image credit score: Samsung)Both the Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro have Gorilla Glass 5 safety. And Samsung claimed when the Tab S8 launched that its new Armor Aluminum body was 30% extra scratch-resistant and 40% much less susceptible to bending than the Galaxy Tab S7, whereas we consider the Active4 Pro makes use of a unique, extra rugged materials.Now, let’s concentrate on all the distinctive outdoor-focused options that the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro has, beginning with its IP68 water resistance score for each the pill and the S Pen. Samsung says you possibly can submerge it in “up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes” with none downside. While we have heard the upcoming Galaxy Tab S9 could have water resistance, that is nonetheless an extremely uncommon characteristic {that a} sure kind of consumer will respect.As we talked about earlier than, the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro battery might be eliminated. Intriguingly, it has one thing referred to as “No Battery Mode,” which helps you to use the pill “continuously at a kiosk or in a vehicle without battery, while also preventing depleted battery health, even in high-temperature environments.” In different phrases, holding it consistently plugged in will not do injury to its battery life capability.(Image credit score: Samsung)In phrases of sturdiness, the Active4 Pro is MIL-STD-810H compliant. What does that imply in observe? Samsung says it survived being “dropped 26 times from 5 feet onto plywood,” can stand up to temperatures from −40º F to 176º F, and might ignore “harsh rain, salt spray, and solar radiation.” You may even take it as much as 15,000 toes if that is the sort of life you lead.Otherwise, except for it being one of many best-rugged tablets on the market, the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro has particular software program and instruments that make it geared for outside and enterprise use. It has 5G help, one thing the Galaxy Tab S8 lacks (Samsung made 5G a Tab S8+ unique for some cause). It helps CBRS radio frequencies for energetic outside jobs, and each barcode scanning and cellular Point of Service (mPOS) terminal tech for companies. Otherwise, each tablets presently help One UI 5.1 based mostly on Android 13. We know that the Galaxy Tab S8 will get three extra updates to Android 16, however we do not know what number of updates the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro will get. It’s additionally honest to notice that the Galaxy Tab S8 will obtain updates sooner as a flagship gadget. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro vs. Tab S8: Which do you have to purchase?(Image credit score: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)Even although we usually desire the Plus and Ultra for varied causes, the Galaxy Tab S8 nonetheless belongs within the dialog of the very best Android tablets attributable to its comparatively compact measurement and extra reasonably priced price ticket. Until the Tab S9 arrives, it has only a few opponents. The Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro, in the meantime, has only a few opponents outdoors of Samsung within the rugged class. Most different main Android manufacturers haven’t got a competing rugged mannequin, so your solely alternate options are from much less well-known manufacturers or swap to rugged Windows tablets as an alternative of Android and DeX. If you need, you possibly can depend on a Galaxy Tab S8 case and a display screen protector for a slight sturdiness improve…nevertheless it will not shut the hole on the Active4 Pro. A case will make it extra shockproof, however you possibly can’t use a case to maintain out water, humidity, excessive temperatures, and different environmental risks. So it actually is determined by how rugged you want your pill to be. Generally talking, the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro is not as a lot of a step down in efficiency as previous Samsung rugged tablets, making it extra palatable.
Samsung Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro
Choose the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro should you particularly want a pill for enterprise functions or taking it on intense outside excursions — or should you want a replaceable battery. Don’t select it if you would like cutting-edge efficiency.
Choose the Galaxy Tab S8 if you would like an indoor pill that trumps the competitors in almost each class. Don’t select it if you would like one thing constructed to resist something you throw at it, from water to heavy falls.